Table 3.
Focus group categories and subcategories
| Main area | Category | Subcategory (no. of groups in which subcategory was mentioned) |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge of sleep apnea | Apnea | Stop breathing in middle of night (7) |
| Snoring (7) | ||
| Pauses in breathing cause awakenings (2) | ||
| Brain signals body to start breathing (1) | ||
| Lack of oxygen (2) | ||
| Breathing airway close (1) | ||
| Not only occurs in obese people (2) | ||
| Doesn't know much about OSA (2) | ||
| Surprised to find out diagnosis (2) | ||
| Health Consequences | Sleep loss in patient and partner (3) | |
| Tired/sleepy during day (7) | ||
| Concentration issues (1) | ||
| Cardiovascular problems (3) | ||
| Never woke during night (1) | ||
| Effects of sleep apnea | Physical | Poor sleep (7) |
| Decreased energy (6) | ||
| Morning headaches (2) | ||
| Snoring (6) | ||
| Napping (6) | ||
| Mental/emotional | Patient or spouse scared due to apneas (5) | |
| Irritable (2) | ||
| Interpersonal | Sleeping in separate rooms (3) | |
| Snoring disrupted partner's sleep (5) | ||
| Spouse frustrated (3) | ||
| Effects of CPAP | Initial experience | No problems (3) |
| Determined to use it (3) | ||
| Problems with equipment (6) | ||
| Concerned with noise from CPAP (2) | ||
| Improvements in sleep and energy (3) | ||
| Worried about appearance with mask (2) | ||
| Partner concerned when patient no longer snoring (2) | ||
| Partner provided support (4) | ||
| Physical | Improvements in sleep (5) | |
| Less snoring and apneas (7) | ||
| More energy (6) | ||
| Refreshed in morning (7) | ||
| No improvements in sleep (3) | ||
| Mental/emotional | Improved mood (5) | |
| Less irritable (3) | ||
| Irritated couldn't get mask adjusted (1) | ||
| Felt ashamed (2) | ||
| Interpersonal | Resume bed sharing (2) | |
| Relationship improved (2) | ||
| Impedes intimacy (2) | ||
| Barriers and motivators of CPAP use | Barriers | Mask uncomfortable (6) |
| Inconvenience when traveling (6) | ||
| Cold/sinus infection (4) | ||
| Don't want to put CPAP back on after getting up during night (1) | ||
| Intimacy (2) | ||
| Hard to sleep with CPAP (5) | ||
| Appearance with mask (2) | ||
| Felt ashamed (2) | ||
| Motivators | Better sleep (4) | |
| Feeling refreshed in morning (5) | ||
| Less sleep disruption for partner/family (2) | ||
| Able to engage in activities again (1) | ||
| Spouse support (5) | ||
| Doctor/DME company support (4) | ||
| New user support program | Format options | In-person small groups (2) |
| Lead by respiratory therapist and/or current CPAP user (2) | ||
| Online video (2) | ||
| Question and answer session (3) | ||
| Components | Demonstration of CPAP equipment (4) | |
| Hands-on experience with equipment (2) | ||
| Overnight experience with CPAP in lab with partner (2) | ||
| Education about OSA and CPAP (6) | ||
| Partner participation (4) | ||
| Early follow-up/interaction (5) |